, 1887-07-03
THE REBEL YELL.
It is Given With Friendly
Vigor at Gettysburg,
Fraternizing Blue and Gray on
the Battle-F ield
President Cleveland's Letter
Received With Cheers.
The Gettysburg Reunion.

NNhJ - ~ wv
was thronged and jammed with people to-
night and the streets and houses brilliant
ly Illuminated and decorated in honor of
the meeting of the blue and gray. The
Philadelphia brigade arrived his evening
and after securing quarters marched to the
depot to receive the guests. At S:25 a
ringing cheer from the Philadelphia bri-
gade was answered by the well known
rebel yell, which announced that the visit
ors had arrived, and 200 of Pickett's vet
Grams marched out and surrendered to the
hospitality of their friends. The grand
procession formed and marched up the
town surrounded by thousands of enthus-
iastic and excited people yelling them
selves hoarse.
A camp fire was held at the court
house, which was crowded to suffocation.
When all was ready Gen. Burns assisted
Mrs Gen. Pickett to the stand. amid the
tremendous cheers which shook the build
ing, and introduced her and her son to the
audience. She was visibly affected by
the reception accorded her.
At 9 o'clock the meeting was called to
order by John w. Frazier, who welcomed
he visitors to the first fraternal meeting
of the blue and gray which has taken
place on these historic grounds, and pre-
scented the comrades of Jackson to the
presiding officer, who in turn presented
Col. Chas. Bane, of the Philadelphia
Brigade association. The latter addressed
himself particularly to the members of
Picketts division of the army Of North
ern Virginia present, saying that ell old
issues were now dead and welcoming the
visitors with soldierly greeting and pre-
senting them a cordial invitation to be
the guests of the Philadelphia brigade.
which had met them in battle array in
the old days. May our stay here he
said, be one of pleasure to each of us;
a fraternal greeting that shall guide us to
resolves for the perpetuity of the
union and constitution.
On behalf of Pickett's veterans. Capt.
c. I'll. Reeve, of Richmond. responded,
rendering the sincere thanks of himself
and comrades for the cordial and hearty
welcome. 1t in the remarks he was about
to make he should say something that had
better be unsaid, bear IN mind that ! e
was solely responsible for the sentiments
he might utter He referred to the pro-
posed project of erecting a monument on
Gettysburg field, not to any particular
army of a state, but national in its char
acter, and to the memory of the dead OF
both armies-a monument OF American
valor and magnanimity which should
stand as a pledge o. perpetual union.
Speeches were made by Gen. w. F.
('Baldy') Smith, Gen. T. Owens Gen.
Weston, Col. j. H. Taggart and others,
for the blue" and by Col. Chas. Loehr,
secretary of Pickett's Division Association.
Col. j. f. Croker. Col. robert NJ. Strib-
ling, DR.. j. A. Marshal. Col. Tiuoleum
Smith, Col. Kirk Otey and others on be-
half OF the gray"
John w. Frazer, secretary of the com
mlttee OF arrangements, stated that letters
OF regret had been received from the
president and the cabinet. from Gen.
Sherman. Governor Fitzhugh Lee, Hon.
g. w. Childs, Geo. VIM. Curtis. Chas.
A. Dana and others. The presidents
letter was read, and is as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANS ON, WASHINGTON,
June "a, lSS7.-I nave received your in
vitation to attend. as a guest of the Phil
adelphia brigade, the reunion of ex con-
federate soldiers of Pickett's division who
survived their terrible charge at Gettys-
living by whom it was heroically resisted.
A fraternal meeting of these soldiers upon
the battlefield where t%wenty-four years ago
AZ NSdhIg nay NhCy hClCCly bOuRuI CdCu
other lives, where they saw their com
fall and where all thoughts were of
vengeance and destruction, will illustrate
the generous impulse of brave men and
their honest desire for peace and %reconcil.
iation. The friendly assault there to be
made will be resistless, because inspired
by American chivalry, and its results
will be glorious, because conquered
hearts will be its trophies Of success.
Thereafter this BATTLEFIELD will be
consecrated by n victory which shall pre-
the end IF bitterness and of strife,
the exposure of sincerity which c~onceals
hatred by professions of kindness, the
condemnation of frenzied appeals to pas
sion for ar unworthy purpose, and the
bearing down of all that stands in the way
of the destiny of our United States,
While those who fought aud who have so
much to forgive lead in the present ways
nt peace, how wicked appears the traffic
sectional bate and the betrayal of pat
riotic sentiment. 1t surely cant be wrong
to desire a settled quiet, which lights for
our entire country the path to prosperity
and greatness; nor need one instance of
the war be forgotten nor its results be
ieopardized in the wish for that genuine
fraternity viii h inspires national pride
and glory. | should be very glad to &C
cept your invitation and be with you at
this interesting reunion, but other ar.
rangements already made. and my official
duties here will prevent my doing so.
Hoping the occasion will be as success
full and as useful as its promoters can de-
sire, | am yours. very truly.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Senator Sherman letter was also read.
The utmost enthusiasm prevailed dur
ing the whole proceedings, and after the
of the presidents letter, three
cheers were given for the president of
the United States. The festivities lasted
ill a late hour, and then the first camp
ever held between the blue ard gray